Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death.

Electronic delivery enables sources such as The Kansas City Star to disseminate news to an audience that has become truly global. But journalists sometimes have less control over how that information presented than in the past — and that can cause problems.

News of F. Glenn Miller’s trial in the killing of three people at two Jewish centers in Johnson County is certainly important to cover. But readers don’t all agree on what that coverage should consist of.

Is the man accused of multiple murder and capital felony charges named Miller or Cross? The answer isn’t simple. This is a good example of a topic that readers and journalists who follow a story closely may be familiar with, but the average reader may have initially missed or forgotten.

Those who keep a critical eye on government spending often question claims about “cuts” to budget items that are really just rollbacks to planned increases. Those voices were strong in reaction to recent news coverage about changes to Kansas’ educational funding — and they have a point.

We all sometimes resort to indirect language in everyday life, but journalists should not use euphemisms in reporting the news, whether it’s about a person’s death or a business’ services. No, Uber and Lyft drivers don’t “share” rides.

If reporters and editors are following the usual style, every writer’s email address and phone number are supposed to appear at the end of stories and columns. However, that bit of info is sometimes trimmed or omitted. Individual staff members are listed in staff directories by department at the bottom of each main page on KansasCity.com.

The dominant story on the Dec. 17 front page of The Kansas City Star was the horrific attack on a school in Pakistan. One small element of how the package was presented was meaningful to at least two readers who called me.

Today's Circulars

About This Blog

Derek Donovan is The Kansas City Star's public editor. This blog is a place for you to share your thoughts about how The Star and KansasCity.com cover the news. If you share your name or other identifying information when speaking with Derek, he will never publish that information without your prior consent.

Derek has been with the paper since 1995, and he's also director of research and information. He contributes occasional reviews and other articles to the Features sections as well. The emphasis here is always on fairness and accuracy, but all sorts of other topics will come to the forefront, of course.

All Star journalists must follow The Star newsroom's Code of Ethics. The Star and KansasCity.com are for you, and your insights help journalists bring you the news that you need to stay informed and engaged. Share your thoughts. Start a conversation.